Shipment of Asia's First Cylindrical FPSO “Haikui No.1” Starts forSubsequent Installation

Date：2024-05-14

Fig.1: Aerial shot of the float-on loading of Haikui No.1

 Fig. 2: Haikui No.1 after the completed float-on loading

 On May 12, Haikui No. 1, Asia's first cylindrical FPSO designed and built by Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd., was shipped from the CNOOC Qingdao International Manufacturing Base for High-end Equipment.

With the functions of crude oil production, storage, and external transfer, Haikui No. 1 is the world's first smart cylindrical FPSO that incorporates a broad array of systems such as an all-in-one marine monitoring system, a data integration platform, and a health management system for mechanical equipment. It consists of a hull and a functional module in its upper structure with nearly 600,000 components and a maximum storage capacity of 60,000 tons. It is designed to withstand unprecedented storms with a lifespan of 30 years, and can operate for 15 consecutive years on sea.

Haikui No. 1, with a weight of around 37,000 tons, has a main deck with a maximum diameter of 90m. Due to a high center of gravity, it is not very stable and liable to defect. The loading of Haikui No. 1 requires close coordination between six ships, which represents the most difficult operation in shipment practice technically.

To guaranteeing the completion of loading and transportation, the project employed Xin Guang Hua, China's largest and the world's second largest semi-submersible ship. A capture device, an automatic total station, and positioning technologies with the support of underwater cameras were utilized in the loading of a large offshore platform for the first time. The design of a dry-tow method for the cylindrical FPSO was also independently completed by the project team for the first time. Besides that, the project team also independently completed the preparation of technical plans, the complex calculation and analysis process, and construction command and management. This ensured that Haikui No. 1 was loaded and accurately put in place.

Once the shipment starts, Haikui No. 1 will be transported to the Pearl River estuary, more than 1,200 nautical miles away from Qingdao, for tie-back and installation. It will be pulled by 12 mooring lines with a length of 2,570m, and operate at 324m under water with a daily crude oil production capacity of around 5,600 tons.